ADP

H. H. Holmes

H. H. Holmes murdered his insurance-fraud associate Benjamin Pitezel in 1894 and was also responsible for the deaths of Pitezel's children Alice, Nellie and Howard. Wikipedia reports their ages as 13, 9 and 7 respectively, but historical accounts give conflicting ages. His conviction was for Benjamin's murder; claims of hundreds of victims are unsupported.

At a glance

What happened
Holmes killed Benjamin Pitezel in an insurance scheme, then took three of his children into his custody. Alice and Nellie were asphyxiated and buried in Toronto; Howard's remains were recovered near Indianapolis. Holmes's later confession to 27 murders included people still alive.
When
The Pitezel murders occurred in 1894. Holmes was convicted in 1895 and executed on May 7, 1896.
Where
Benjamin was killed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the children's deaths were linked to Toronto, Canada, and the Indianapolis area, Indiana.
Why / motive
Benjamin's death was connected to collecting an insurance payout. The sources do not establish a single reliable motive for all of Holmes's attributed killings.
Outcome
Holmes was convicted of Benjamin Pitezel's murder and hanged in Philadelphia in 1896.

Who is involved

  • H. H. Holmes — subject

Sources

  1. H. H. Holmes source“Paraphrase: Holmes killed Benjamin Pitezel in an insurance scheme, then took three of his children into his custody. Alice and Nellie were asphyxiated and buried in Toronto; Howard's remains were recovered near Indianapolis. Holmes's later ”
  2. H. H. Holmes source“Paraphrase: The Pitezel murders occurred in 1894. Holmes was convicted in 1895 and executed on May 7, 1896.”
  3. H. H. Holmes source“Paraphrase: Benjamin was killed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the children's deaths were linked to Toronto, Canada, and the Indianapolis area, Indiana.”
  4. H. H. Holmes source“Paraphrase: Benjamin's death was connected to collecting an insurance payout. The sources do not establish a single reliable motive for all of Holmes's attributed killings.”
  5. H. H. Holmes source“Paraphrase: Holmes was convicted of Benjamin Pitezel's murder and hanged in Philadelphia in 1896.”
  6. Additional source“Paraphrase: Holmes was convicted of Benjamin Pitezel's murder and hanged in Philadelphia in 1896.”
  7. H. H. Holmes: attributed child ages“Paraphrase: Wikipedia gives Alice, Nellie and Howard's ages as 13, 9 and 7; these numbers are attributed to that source because accounts differ.”
  8. Irvington Historical Society: Holmes collection“Paraphrase: The historical society describes Howard Pitezel as 10 years old, conflicting with Wikipedia's age of 7; his murder took place in Irvington.”

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